Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-04-08
PIckETT'S MEMORABLE CHARGE.
Attacking the Federal Center on Gene
tery Ridge-Beginning OF the End.

tery Ridge-Beginning OF the End.
Lee plan was 10 attack and pierce the
Federal center AT Cemetery Ridge under
the command of t;en. Hancock II was
an attack such rs Napoleon had made sue
ccssfully AT Wagram. when Marshal Nc
Donald, with 4 corps Of 10000 men
pierced the Austrian center and won Il
great victory. II was an attack such a.
Napoleon had tried with the Old Guard st
Waterloo against Wellington and had
met with disaster.
BY | O'Clock Lee found himself in readi
ness to again open thr battle For sev.
eral hour, "A dead silence had reigurd over
the battle field. when suddenly a cannon
. shot. followed at the interval 81 a minute
by another, pruclaims to both armies that
the houT had come for the last and final
struggle for victory. The solitary smoke
0f these shots was Still floating in the air
/ "hcn the whole Confederate line burst
out ia one great roar and blaze Of cannon
adinG One hundred and thirty eight
pieces "f cannon opened their fiery throatS
/ and sent their iron missiles against the
Federal center. 81 shake it. To tear il. to
rend 1t, if pos>lhle. from eighty guns,
well posted on the ridge, the Federals
made reply. For two hours his terrific
storm of shot and shell continued, until
the Federal chief uf artillery slack, ned his
fire, dermInG il wise 10 hold in reserve his
ammunition 1" meet the infantry charge
which h" knew was coming. Meade also
wishing Ia provoke the attack, ordered
the firing to Cease,
And now the COnfelerates dTyw out to
make that final AMI forever memorable
charge. which ranks among thA most re
markable in the history Of battles The
column numbers 1900 men II they
could all he put in motion aud well led
against particular point of the Federal
line they may decide the fate of the hattie. (
Pickett's division Of Nirginians. number
ing i,SpD men. j. the directing force, and .
on these the greatest reliance Is place l.
Out Of the wooded crrSJs on Cemetery !
Ridge they march, sweeping into the plain.
a mile in width, they have 10 cross. with ,
the mien of conquerOrS and with cou-
rage that has been tested on many battle
fields. Onward t'iey go in double battle
line, not impetuo iSly. not at the double
quick, but with disciplined steadiness, as
if on the fed of review. The supporting
columns follow, but not with the steadi-
ness that CharacteriZcs Pickett's men
Now opens the Federal artillery with
all their force upon the assailants, the
s'uu snot DlSiilnS great lanes through
the advancing hosts Still they 20
on, melting away rs they go, the musk
etry fire making still greater havoc among
them. The supporting columns falter,
but Pickett carries his men forward, they
reach the crest of the hill. but torn and
bleeding and almost destroyed. they are
powerleSs to strike the blow they came 10
give. A blasting fire from the Federal
infantry almost annihilated them. out
of eighteen field officers and four generals.
Pickett and one lieutenant colonel alone
remain unharmed. They throw down
their arms, they fly, and the conflict is at
an end. OF Pickett's magnificent division
alone ), 500 men have been sacrificed ana
twelve stands Of colnrs lost. The losses
in the supporting columns are nearly as
great.
The battle WAS over. On the crest of
Cemetery Ridge the southern rebellion
found its high water mark IL was the
beginning Of the end, hut the great army
of Lee was destined to hold at bay for a
long time Yet the conGuerors at Gettys-
burg. Into the dispute that Meade should
have made his victory SIN more decisive
Dy an advance upon his foe it is no; pro
posed TO enter. He had rcpelled the in
'asion. Lee with his army retired To
Virginia again to set on the defensive. and
Meade pursued him. In the latter DAYS
II July the RInidGn had become the
lividing line between the opposing armies
Chicago Herald.